What Is the Salary for Someone in the Telecommunications Industry?

The telecommunications industry offers many career options, including telecommunications line installer and repairer, telecommunications equipment installer and repairer and telecommunications engineer. Each position requires a different education level and has a different salary potential. Read on to find out more about these careers and what you could earn.
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Overview of Career Opportunities for the Telecommunications Industry

Like many large industries, the telecommunication industry provides opportunities for administrative, managerial and customer service professionals. In addition, a large number of telecommunications workers are employed in the areas of installation, repair and maintenance. Some possible career opportunities in this field include telecommunications line installer and repairer, telecommunications equipment installer and repairer and telecommunications engineer.

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

Telecommunication line installers work mostly outside to install and maintain the endless networks of lines and cable that connect telephone, cable, Internet and other communication systems. According to the BLS, this occupation provides higher wages than similar occupations that don't require formal postsecondary training. The majority of line installers receive their training on the job, but formal apprenticeship programs are also common.

Salary Information

As of May 2014, as reported by the BLS, the lowest ten percent in this profession earned $28,530 or below, and the top ten percent earned $81,160 and above. Most were employed by wired telecommunications carriers and earned an average wage of $61,170. Many were also employed by building equipment contractors, which offered an average wage of $46,770.

New York, which offered an average wage of $70,180, had the highest telecommunications line installer and repairer employment level in May 2014, according to the BLS. Massachusetts employed 2,960 of these professionals, offering the highest average wage of $73,780.

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers

While working as a telecommunication equipment installer and repairer you will set-up, install and maintain a variety of routing, switching and dialing equipment used in central locations. Equipment installers usually focus on communications wiring and equipment within buildings. This career option typically requires some postsecondary training. Common programs include 2-4 year degree programs in electronics or computers at community colleges, universities and technical schools.

Salary Information

The BLS reported that, for telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, the lowest ten percent earned $30,610 or less, while the top ten percent earned $77,200 or above. The wired telecommunications carriers and building equipment contractors industries employed the most installers and repairers and offered respective average wages of $56,310 and $47,430. California, which had an average wage of $57,910, employed the highest number of these professionals in May 2014. Rhode Island, which employed only 610 installers and repairers, offered the highest average wage of $67,300.

Telecommunications Engineers

Telecommunications engineers play an integral role in the design, development and testing of hardware, software and other equipment used for both wired and wireless applications. A minimum of a bachelor's degree in the field is usually required to begin a career as a telecommunication engineer.

Salary Information

According to PayScale.com in September 2015, entry-level telecommunications engineers had a median annual salary of $60,947. Telecommunications engineers in general had a median wage of $73,782, with most earning between $49,543 and $106,221.

In addition, the BLS reported industry-specific salary data for electronics engineers, including those specializing in telecommunications. In May 2014, most of these professionals worked for the federal executive branch of the government, architectural and engineering services and wired telecommunications carriers. These industries offered respective average wages of $104,400, $99,210 and $88,440. California, which employed the highest number of electronics engineers, offered an average wage of $111,660. The District of Columbia offered the highest average wage of $117,750.

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